Zoë Thorn
Zoë is an experienced 11-18 science and chemistry teacher who has worked in sixth form colleges for 17 years. She did both a BSc and a PhD at Imperial College, London, and a PGCE at Department of Education, Cambridge University.
Since 2021 she has been working with her colleague Simon Colebrooke on a research project with Anglia Ruskin University. Zoë’s particular interests lie in threshold concepts in chemistry and enabling A level students to be better chemists, not just more skilled exam takers. Zoë and Simon are working on a complete rethink of the A-level chemistry course to help uncover and challenge student misconceptions, facilitate learning and reinvigorate student interest in chemistry. They have also worked together on the following publications:
FeatureFlipped learning builds solid foundations
Discover how this approach can boost learners’ understanding and engagement with the first year of post-16 chemistry
Lesson planModelling radioactive decay | Fundamentals of chemistry | 16–18 years
Use this flipped learning worksheet and student sheet to revise fusion and nuclear equations and introduce decay
Lesson planNuclear fusion | Fundamentals of chemistry | 16–18 years
Use this flipped learning worksheet and student sheet to revise subatomic particles and introduce nuclear fusion
Lesson planFundamentals of chemistry | 16–18 years
Tackle the key concepts of scale and representation from the start of your post-16 chemistry course with this short course designed around flipped learning workbook
Lesson planCounting protons, neutrons and electrons | Fundamentals of chemistry | 16–18 years
Use this flipped learning worksheet and student sheet to revise and develop understanding of subatomic particles
Lesson planDeveloping a model of the atom | Fundamentals of chemistry | 16–18 years
Use this flipped learning worksheet and student sheet to revise and develop understanding of atomic structure and how it is represented in chemistry